EARNINGS & TRADING: Playtech beats view; INPP and OCI positive returns
The following is a round-up of earnings and trading updates for FTSE 250-listed companies, issued on Thursday and Wednesday, and not separately reported by Alliance News:
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Playtech PLC - Douglas, Isle of Man-based gambling software - Reports results for the six months ended June 30. Revenue grows 10% to EUR425.1 million from EUR387.0 million. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation surges to EUR86.8 million from EUR12.9 million. Adjusted Ebitda grows 77% to EUR162.5 million from EUR91.6 million, "significantly ahead of analyst expectations". Continuing pretax profit is EUR113.0 million, swung from a EUR58.8 million loss. Adjusted pretax profit grows to EUR111.9 million from EUR31.2 million. Playtech highlights "excellent strategic progress in the Americas with key growth markets performing ahead of expectations," noting the "strong contribution" of revenue more than doubling in the US and Canada. The Americas operations show "continued momentum" in the second half. Playtech believes it is on track to achieve full-year adjusted Ebitda exceeding EUR270 million. Also expects to reach the top end of its mid-term guidance ranges, of EUR250 million to EUR300 million in adjusted Ebitda and EUR70 million to EUR100 million in free cash flow, "far earlier than anticipated".
On Wednesday, Playtech welcomes the "highly anticipated Spectrum Report" commissioned by Stockhom-based peer Evolution AB, which previously filed defamation claims against Playtech, alleging that it hired intelligence agency Black Cube as part of a "smear campaign". Playtech says the report "in fact corroborates fundamental aspects of Black Cube's investigation, including concerns around the availability of Evolution's games in certain prohibited markets, the regulatory implications of its practices, and the lack of proactive monitoring of its customers." Playtech adds that "Evolution failed to provide Spectrum with significant information it had requested...meaning Evolution still has serious questions to answer around the availability of its games in prohibited markets." Playtech says it welcomes the opportunity for the court, regulatory authorities and other stakeholders to review the report, stands by its choice to commission Black Cube's investigation, and is still "very confident" that court proceedings will confirm its credibility and legitimacy.
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International Public Partnerships Ltd - London-based infrastructure investor - Reports results for the first half of 2026. Net asset value per share is 153.4 pence as at June 30, up 1.3% from 151.5p at December 31. Annualised NAV return is positive 8.2% for the half-year, down from 10.6% for the second half of 2025. Company targets a 8.79p per share full-year dividend for 2026 and a 9.01p dividend for 2027, which would both be 2.5% higher year-on-year. Declares first interim dividend of 2.19p per share. Pretax profit for the first half is £107.0 million, down from £142.6 million the year before. "We have proven the quality of INPP's portfolio by realising a total of over £440m at or above NAV since mid-2023," Chair Sarah Whitney says. "Using the proceeds, together with surplus operating cash, we have committed to reinvest about £480 million in assets with a risk profile consistent with our existing portfolio but at an expected return of more than 11%." INPP says it "will continue to prioritise a disciplined capital allocation strategy to provide reliable, progressive income with long-term capital growth," highlighting around £290 million in known and committed investment opportunities. Says its investment adviser has identified a nearer-term pipeline of about £1 billion "of equity opportunities across regulated assets, public private partnerships and operating businesses, with estimated double-digit returns". INPP has access to a £3.0 billion longer-term investment pipeline.
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Oakley Capital Investments Ltd - closed-ended fund offering access to private equity investments of manager Oakley Capital Ltd - Reports results for the first half of 2026. NAV per share is 782p as of June 30, up from 738p at December 31. Total NAV return per share for the half-year is positive 6.0%, or positive 6.5% when excluding the impact of currency movements. The largest positive contributions are 13p per share from Phenna Group, which showed "continued organic growth and strong M&A momentum," and 9p per share from North Sales, due to "sustained operational progress and a period of consistent delivery across all divisions". OCI says it made total look-through investments of £43 million, and highlights its "targeted exposure to a new generation of enterprise technology businesses being built around AI". "We are actively progressing a number of strategic initiatives designed to enhance shareholder value and improve balance sheet strength, and expect to say more on these in the coming months," comments OCI Chair Christopher Samuel. "With a high-quality portfolio continuing to create value, Oakley's differentiated investment model and a number of potential catalysts ahead, we are optimistic about the opportunities to deliver attractive returns for shareholders."
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Dunelm Group PLC - Leicester, England-based homewares retailer - Chair Alison Brittain buys 10,000 shares at 732.29p each, worth £73,229, on Wednesday in London.
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Rathbones Group PLC - London-based investment and wealth manager - Issues £60 million of tier 2 debt "to maintain the efficiency of the group's capital structure and for general corporate purposes". Says this includes the refinancing of the existing £40 million tier 2 notes it issued in 2021. The new notes mature on December 9, 2036, and have a three-month par call option exercisable from September 9, 2031 to December 9 that year. Interest is fixed at 8.125% per year. "We are pleased with the strong investor response to our first listed tier 2 bond issue, which reflects confidence in Rathbones' strong capital position and the credibility of our long-term strategy," says Group Chief Financial Officer Iain Hooley.
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